Delta is reportedly suspending its flight assistance service for members of Congress.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday that the carrier will no longer offer special benefits to lawmakers through its congressional desk service. Those perks included escorts through airports and highly specialized red coat customer assistance.
“Due to the impact on resources from the longstanding government shutdown, Delta will temporarily suspend specialty services to members of Congress flying Delta,” a spokesperson told the newspaper. “Next to safety, Delta’s no. 1 priority is taking care of our people and customers, which has become increasingly difficult in the current environment.”
Members of Congress and their staff can still make reservations through the congressional desk, but they will be treated like any other passenger, with benefits limited to their standing in Delta’s loyalty program.
The airline did not immediately reply to a request from AirlineGeeks seeking additional information.
The change in policy comes only days after the U.S. Senate passed a bill that would end special treatment for members of Congress at airports, including their ability to skip security lines and receive expedited screening.
Due to the partial government shutdown, TSA employees are working without pay, and a growing number are quitting or calling out of work. As a result, security lines at several major airports are moving much slower than usual, and on especially busy travel days, wait times have shot up to two, three, and even four hours.
Among the hardest hit is Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, where Delta has its headquarters and a base.
U.S. airlines have repeatedly pressed Congress to reach a deal that would restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security and, by extension, the TSA. Democrats and some Republicans are holding out for reforms of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and stronger oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, which are also part of DHS.
